The Achilles Heel

"Government can't give us anything without depriving us of something else."

    - Henry Hazlitt (1894-1993), American economist

John Cole on his weblog, Balloon Juice, talks about what he feels will make President Bush vulnerable this November. Many comments follow John's post that are worth reading.

Cole links to an article by Ralph Z. Hallow of the Washington Times who reports that national leaders of six conservative organizations have broken with the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, accusing them of spending like "drunken sailors." These leaders are also criticizing the president:

"The Republican Congress is spending at twice the rate as under Bill Clinton, and President Bush has yet to issue a single veto...The Constitution gives the president the power to veto legislation, and if Congress won't act in a fiscally responsible way, the president has to step in--but he hasn't done that."

I agree with Cole, and the conservative leaders. This administration and Congress have not enhanced support of the Republican Party faithful by taking discretionary spending to new highs. Unless this problem is addressed, it will give the Democrats the impetus they need to make the 2004 election an extremely tight race.

I would love to see President Bush acknowledge these excesses, and propose some solutions. A good place to start would be in the State of the Union Address Tuesday night, but I'm not holding my breath.